Mail box



Aug. 30, 1927. 4 ,888

E. VAN O. DAVIS MAIL BOX Filed Maroh' 924 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 Inventak @4 luwcfim (9W 4? flttorneya.

Aug. 30,1927.

E. VAN o. DAVIS MAIL BOX Fil March 1, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor w 62;, 16am fltrorneyi Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,640,888 PATENT OFFICE.

ELIAS VAN OCTON DAVIS, HORNELL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO JAMES T. vFOODY, OF HORNEL L, NEW YORK.

MAIL BOX.

Application filed March 1, 192 1. Serial No. 696,347.

This invention relates to a mail box and has for its object the provision of a box for this purpose which permits of easily opening the box at its lower end and dropping .5 the mail from the same into the hand of the operator after the same hand by an upward push on a part of the mail box has opened the lower outlet of the same and thus facilitate opening and emptying the mail box by a single hand.

Further objects of this invention are to simplify the construction of the mail box, reduce its cost of manufacture, and insure positive discharge of mail therefrom when the same is opened.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail box constructed in accordance with my in vention. Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same. Figure '3 is a horizontal section thereof. Figures 4:, 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views of differentparts of the mail box.

Similar characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

comprises a rear section, a front section and a top section, each of which is preferably made of sheet metal. The rear section in the preferred form comprises a rear wall 10 which is adaptedto be secured to a suitable support by means of screws or other fastenings passing through holes 11 in this wall, two upright side walls 12 which project forwardly from the opposite vertical edges of the rear wall and preferably taper downwardly,

a horizontal bottom 13 projecting forwardly from the lower edge of the rear wall, and a horizontal top 1 1 projecting forwardly from the upper edge of the rear wall. The front section consists of an upright front wall 15 which normally inclines from its upper end downwardly and rearwardly toward its lower end and adapted to engage its lower part with the front edge of said bottom, and two upright side walls 16, 16 which project rearwardly from the opposite upright edges of said front wall and adapted normally to be arranged with their lower parts on opposite sides of said bottom while their upper parts are adapted to be arranged between the upper wide parts of the rear side walls 12. The upper rear corners of the front side walls are pivotally connected with upper parts of the rear side walls by pivots 17 passing horizontally and transversely In its general organization this mail box .of a key 27.

end of the through these parts and thereby permit the front section .to turn so that its lower part can be moved toward and from the lower part of the front section for closing and opening the outlet for the mail between the lower parts of the front and rear. sections. Immediately in front of the pivots 17 the upper edges of the front side walls are provided with notches 18 which permit these parts of the front sectionto clear the adjacent parts of the top of the rear section when opening the front section. The top or upper section consists of a substantiall horizontal top plate 19 which engages wit the upper edges of the front side walls 16 andhas its rear part overhanging the top of the rear section, and two longitudinal flanges 20 depending from opposite edges of the front top 19 and secured to the front side walls by a tie rod 21 passing transversely and horizontally through the front side walls and said flanges in front .of the notches 18, and having its outer ends upset or riveted over so as to hold said flanges in place relatively to the front side walls.

The front wall terminates short of the front top so as to form an inlet 22 therebetween through -which the mail is introduced into the mail box. To prevent the mail matter from being easily removed through this inlet a guard flange 23 is provided which extends from the front edge of the front top downwardly and rearwardly' .to a point substantially on a horizontal line with the lower edge of said front wall, as shown in Figure 2. I

The lower part of the front wall may be locked to the bottom of the rear section by a lock 2st having a bolt 25 which is adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with an opening 26 in the bottom by means The front section is so proportioned and its weight distributed that the same tends to automatically swing by gravity into its closed position. When .100 locked in its closed position any mail deposited in the boX through the inlet in its upper end will be confined therein and can only be removed by unlocking the lower front section and swinging the 1 same forwardly so as to open the outlet of the mail box between the lower ends of its front and rear sections.

In order to avoid a sharp edge at the lower end of the mail inlet opening the 1,1

front wall at this place is turned inwa'rdlym and downwardly in the form of a flange 28.; The mail is prevented from getting caughtl on the lock by providing the inner side of:

engaged by the front wall and thus avoid ing cutting the latter as well as stiffening the bottom and furmshmg a strong andv reliable hold for the lock.

In order to forcibly move the mail matter forwardly over the bottom and cause th same to drop through the outlet of the ma side walls are provided at their rear ed v with ejecting flanges 31 which project toward each other and are preferably separated by an intervening upright slot 82. As the mail enters the box it falls on the bottom between the front wall and the ejecting flanges and when the front section is moved forwardly these flanges carry the mail forwardly from the bottom so that it drops from the front edge of the latter and into the hand of I the recipient which is placed there for this purpose. To permit the same hand which catches the mail to be also utilized for throwing the front section forwardly and opening the box preparatory to discharging the mail means are provided which in their preferred construction comprise a vertically movable shifting bar or rod 33 guided on the inner side of the rear wall and projecting at its lower end through an opening 3a in the bottom while its upper end is provided with a forwardly projecting lifting finger or lug 35 which is arranged underneaththe tie rod 21 which also acts as a lifting rod.

'For the purpose of removing the mail from the box the operator, after unlocking the front section, places the hand under the outlet of the box with the palm up and presses with a linger upwardly against the lower end of the shifting rod. As a result of this operation the finger at the upper end of the shifting rod engages with the tie or shifting rod of the front section and turns the latter on its pivots so that its lower end swings away from the rear section and not only opens the mail outlet but also discharges the mail from the box into the hand of the operator.

For convenience in manipulating the shifting bar or rod its lower end is provided with a forwardly projecting lug 36. forming a push button for the hand of the operator. Suitable means for guiding the shifting bar may consist of guide lugs 37 stamped out of the stock of the rear wall. and bent to embrace this bar, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

provided on the front edge: of the bottom by meansof a depending flange 30 thereon which 18 adapted to be Newspapers or bundles too large to enter the mail box may be fastened to the top !of the box by a clip 38 preferably of U-form and having a lower arm secured tothe front top and its upper arm overhanging thesame, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The presence of mail matter within the box canibe determined through a sight opening 39 in the front wall.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mail box comprising front and rear sections, said rear section having an upright rear wall, upright side walls projecting forwardly from the side edses of said rear wall, a top projecting forwardly from j I 7 fthe upper edge of sa d rear box upon opening the front section the rroi wall and a bottom projecting forwardly edge of said rear wall, and said front section being of hollow form and pivotally. mounted on said rear section and having a mail inlet in its upper part and adapted to have its lower part move toward and from the lower part of said rear section for closing and opening the outlet for the mail at the lower end of the box, and means for manually moving the lower part of said front section away from the lower part of said rear section comprising a vertically movable shifting bar guided in the rear wall of said rear section and operating at its upper end on the upper part of, said front section.

2. A mail box comprising front and rear sections, said rear section having an upright 'ear wall, upright side walls projecting forwardly from the side edges of said rear wall, a top projecting forwardly from the upper edge of said rear wall and a bottom projecting forwardly from the lower edge of said rear wall, and said front section being of hollow form and pivotally mounted on said rear section and having a mail in from the lower 7 ibo and openingthe outlet for the mail at the lower end of the box, and means for manually moving the lower part of said front section away from the lower part of said rear section comprising a vertically movable shifting barv guided on said rear wall and 7 provided at its upper end with a forwardly projecting lifting finger, and a lifting rod arranged on the upper part of said front section and adapted to be engaged bysaid lifting finger.

3. A mail box comprising front and rear sections, said rear section having an upright rear wall, upright side walls projecting forwardly from the side ed 'es of said rear wall,

a top projecting p edge of said rear jecting forwardly said rear wall, and said front-section being of hollow form and pivotally mounted on wall and a bottom proforwardly from the upper from the lower e'dge'of said rear section and having a mail inlet in its upper part and adapted to have its lower part move toward and from the lower part of said rear section for closing and opening the outlet for the mail at the lower end of the box, and means for manually moving the lower part of said front section away from the lower part of said rear section comprising a vertically movable shifting bar guided on said rear wall and provided at its upper end with a forwardly projecting lifting finger, and a lifting rod arranged on the upper part of said front section and adapted to be engaged by said lifting finger, the lower part of said shifting bar projecting downwardly through said bottom and provided with a forwardly projecting push. button.

4. A mail box comprising front and rear sections, said rear section having an upright rear wall, upright side walls projecting forwardly from the side edges of said rear wall, a top projecting forwardly from the upper edge of said rear wall and a bottom projecting forwardly from the lower edge of said rear wall, and said front section being of hollow form and pivotally mounted on said rear section and having a mail inlet in its upper part and adapted to have its lower part move toward and from the lower part of said rear section for closing and opening the outlet for the mail at the lower end of the boX, and means for manually moving the lower part of said front section away from the lower part of said rear section comprising a vertically movable shifting bar guided on said rear wall and provided at its upper end with a forwardly projecting lifting finger, and a' lifting rod arranged on the upper part of said front section and adapted to be engaged by said lifting finger, the lower part of said shifting bar projecting downwardly through said bottom and adapted to be engaged by the hand of the attendant, and said rear wall being provided with guide lugs which are stamped out of the same and embrace said lifting bar. 7

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ELIAS VAN OCTON DAVIS. 

